Voters also elected planning commissioner Jim Sanders and First District Supervisor representative Lori Acton to the city council, winning 20 percent and 18 percent respectively. Incumbent Mayor Ron Carter lost his seat after 16 years of service, netting 17.4 percent of the vote.

"It's exciting and humbling to win," she said Wednesday afternoon, "but then it's 'Okay, now the real work begins' wake-up call."

Acton said that going forward, the real work began with the people.

"It's about bringing forward the concerns of the public and rebuilding the trust of our public," she said.

It was an event that Acton, her husband Chris and a group of friends were waiting for during an election night party at a friend's house on Sydnor Avenue.

The group bantered as they watched the presidential elections on television over homemade pizza while awaiting the first local election results.

While the overall mood was light, there was an overall anticipation to see the first numbers. Acton alternated between a laptop and her smartphone to check the results.

"There's numbers," she said at one point.

The next day the final results showed Acton and Sanders both gaining seats on the city council.

One of the largest concerns was setting the city's finances in order by ensuring the city properly spent its funds.

"There's the nice-to-haves and the need-to-haves," Acton said. "We need to focus on the need-to-haves especially with the loss of RDA funds."

Some of those approaches include rebuilding the city's reserves and the need to focus on business and create a tax base.

Overall, she said she was glad her campaign was finished but that the best part of it was talking to people.

"The response I received from the community as a whole was absolutely amazing," she said. "People were happy to actually talk about the issues."

Acton expressed thanks to her husband Chris, her children Amanda and Cody for stepping up and her grandson Rayden and her father Joe Brangwin, as well all her friends for their hard work and support.

She said she was excited to work with Dan Clark, Jim Sanders, Jason Patin and Chip Holloway.

Page 2 of 4 - "It's going to be a good mix," she said.

And she said she would look forward to the candidates that were leaving office, including council member Steve Morgan and Carter.

"Being able to benefit from their wisdom would be great, especially since they've been on council for 16 years," she said.

She also said she would love to work with Vice Mayor Taylor, who lost the mayoral race to Dan Clark.

"His fiscal know-how is amazing," she said.

The mayor and new council will be seated in December, and issues still remain for them to address.

Overall, candidates expressed varied reactions from the results.

"I'm really overwhelmed and humbled that I was elected," Jim Sanders said on the phone Wednesday. "I'm looking forward to serving the people of Ridgecrest."

Sanders said he was looking forward to the course ahead of him.

One of the first priorities he thinks the new council will likely focus on finalizing the Tax Allocation Bond money allocations.

"We got a good start with what we did," Sanders said. "With a new council seated, I think some priorities might change."

The council has already allocated approximately $20.4 million of the anticipated funds, earmarking it for future road projects, revamping Kerr McGee Youth Sports Complex, and economic development projects.

Sanders reflected on the campaign as hard but fulfilling work.

"I had a really great experience (campaigning)," he said. "Mostly what I did was knock on doors and talk to people and I got the opportunity to see some really diverse perspectives."

Despite mixed feelings about the election results overall, Sanders said it was that people have made.

"No matter what, we got a government that was elected and I have complete respect for that process," Sanders said.

Mayor Ron Carter, who lost his seat, said overall he was happy with the election results.

"I'm so happy that Dan Clark is our new mayor," Carter said. "I'm impressed with Lori Acton and can't wait to see what she does. I got to know James Sanders during the campaign. He's an honest young man with a great family."

Carter said the council would find many challenges in the new term, including the budget.

"They should act together and balance the budget," he said. "Luckily, we've got new people who are skilled. I've got full confidence in the new council."

Carter served on the council for 16 years, much of that time while he worked as an educator and a school site administrator.

While Carter has voiced his continued desire throughout his campaign to continue acting as a servant of the people, he expressed no disappointment in not being re-elected to city council.

Page 3 of 4 - "This makes me fully retired now," he said. "I'm going to enjoy myself, my family and my kids and get to do things I haven't done in a while."

For those who all ran for the public office, he expressed his appreciation for their desire to help the community.

"I'm very impressed with anyone who runs for public office," he said.

Dan Clark, who has served as city council before, was happy the election was over.

"I'm honored and humbled to be first directly-elected mayor of Ridgecrest," Clark said. "I'm excited to start work in December."

Being elected mayor would mean Clark would have to step down as chair of the Oversight Board to the Ridgecrest RDA Successor Agency, but he's already making plans after he's seated as mayor.

"I'm going to meet with staff as I understand there are some concerns that the city's revenue may be short," he said. "If that's the case, that's the first thing the council needs to sit down and figure out."

Clark said that this race was challenging.

"I was honored to run against Randy Jenkins and Jerry Taylor, two strong candidates," he said. "I don't think people realize the amount time and energy that goes into a running a campaign. It's a challenge."

He said he had nothing but respect for those that ran, regardless of whether they won.

"I have nothing but respect for them and consider them patriots for running," Clark said.

William Dale Howard, a retired businessman who took more than 1000 votes in the city council race, said it had been a good race.

"I guess I just got to try harder next time," he said with a chuckle over the phone Wednesday. "Whether or not people know it, this is the way the universe has unfolded."

He said despite the election of a new council "everything still bears watching" at city hall.

"The council has changed," he said. "Now they should be given an opportunity to see what they can do."

Howard said that the race had its ups and downs.

"I'm very glad that I jumped into the race," he said. "But I'm a little disappointed that I didn't reach the number of people I should have. If I decide to run again, I'll just have to try harder."

Vice Mayor Jerry Taylor declined to make a statement about the election, but directed the Daily Independent to a post on his Facebook page, Elect-Taylor.com, where thanked his supporters and blamed two letters to the editor printed in the week before the election, saying they unfairly swayed voters.

"Thanks to everyone for all your support," Taylor had posted. "Considering all the lies allowed to be printed in one of the newspapers it will be a welcomed change to be a private citizen again. I wish the best to the new mayor and council as the city approaches the 50th-year anniversary."

Page 4 of 4 - Calls to candidates Scott Garver, Randy Jenkins, Henry Wilson and Tom Wiknich were made, but could not be reached as of Wednesday night.

Clark summed the election up as a particularly hard one for candidates and the community.

"I think our city goes through growing pains, especially during elections, and I don't want to see our community divided on any line," he said. "I hope now that the election is over, we can work together and heal our community."